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Mental health

Just been prescribed Fluoxetine what should I expect?

42 replies

LoveBeingInTheSun · 02/08/2014 08:30

So finally went to see the go and spiked my guts and walked out with a script for Fluoxetine. There are bloody hundreds of side effects Confused and of course some are what I am experiencing already.

Can someone with experience of this one tell me anything about it?

Tia

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Matildasmam22 · 02/08/2014 08:34

I was on them a few years ago. I had a rough few first weeks then settled.

Unfortunately they didn't work for me and I came off them eventually.

Antidepressants effect different people differently, you might get no side effects or all of them.

The only advice I'd give you is try and ride the first two weeks out and hopefully they will sort you out.

Thanks

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BastardDog · 02/08/2014 12:14

I'm on day 3. Not feeling any different either way yet.

This is my first time on Fluoxetine, but I've had anti Ds in the past and given up on them 2-3 weeks in as I've felt worse than before I started.

This time my GP has warned me to expect this and I'm going to try and stick with it.

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wingcommandergallic · 02/08/2014 12:18

If you can get through the first few weeks, then things do even out.

I was on them for 6 months and they did help give me a bit of breathing space.

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 02/08/2014 14:05

Thanks all. Good luck to you bastarddog

Well have defo ended up worse have just completely overreacted in the supermarket. I was looking at some discounted and bundled up pants for dd as we were uniform shopping and this assistant starts telling me I'm not allowed to open the pack. I explain it doesn't have the size on further discussion but the she follows me to the socks and starts questioning me again....anyway long story short I tell her how ride she is and if she want to follow me around the shop to go ahead, at which point another assistant turns up and I burst into tears!

Does it matter what tie of day you take it? Will I get a peak after taking it therefore maybe safer to take it at night?

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wingcommandergallic · 02/08/2014 14:12

My pharmacist said they work better in the morning.

I can confirm that not drinking alcohol is a good idea too. I always found I was worse when tired or hungry.

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fluffydressinggown · 02/08/2014 18:15

I am on fluxoetine and other than making me a bit twitchy I have had no side effects what so ever from it. On here I read about people really suffering when they begin to take it but honestly I wouldn't even know I was taking it. I take it in the morning which is what my psychiatrist told me to. Oh and I drink on it (not silly amounts) and have had no problems.

I hope you have a similar experience to me and they start to help you feel better soon.

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ellenjames · 02/08/2014 18:22

My dh has been on them 2 weeks and is going to stop today as the side effects are worse than his symptoms! He has awful anxiety and insomnia it's just not worth it for him as he is taking them because of an accident at work and he is feeling stressed but nothing like he is at the moment!!

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 02/08/2014 21:09

Ellen no don't let him stop now, they are meant to be bad for two weeks so he should be almost there

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 02/08/2014 21:12

Thanks, I'm not going to drink for the time being although I'm not gonna lie I was planning a big night out at the end of August and for drink plays a big part so I'm thinking I might not even go Sad

Have just swept the patio as I was feeling really well not sure how to subscribe it but wish I was fit enough to go for a run!

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ellenjames · 02/08/2014 21:29

Really?? We were told 1 week!! Will tell him to keep slogging on!!Grin

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 02/08/2014 21:38

Yes my go said I will probably feel worse for two weeks but then should start to feel better. She wants to see me a couple of days before I run out of my first months and then she will review it. When does you dh have to go back?

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fluffydressinggown · 02/08/2014 22:49

Honestly you can drink on them. I take fluoxetine and a pretty heavy duty anti psychotic and I drink as I would off them and have had no problems. I don't binge drink but I will share a bottle of wine or have some cider.

Please try not to worry because for everyone who really struggles with them there is someone like me who has no issues with them.

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 03/08/2014 00:35

Thanks fluffy the problem is what is a side effect and what is what's wrong to begin with Confused. I feel asleep earlier and now can't nod off, I'm never awake at this time,

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RockinHippy · 03/08/2014 00:58

I hate to be the scare monger - but do take extra care & make sure you are not on your own around the day 10'mark - there's a known suicide risk at this point & I know 3 people well, myself included, who really weren't suicidal at all, yet suddenly attempted suicide around that time - it's not well documented until you dig deeper.

I was only given these by a crap GP who refused to listen to genuine physical health symptoms, which were eventually diagnosed after changing GPs .- She told me that I had to take them for 6 months before she would consider anything else.

I wasn't depressed, I was actually coping bloody well with a string of pretty awful events - though in fairness it did give me breathing space, - but day 10 - I very suddenly, totally out of the blue, freaked out & tried to cut my wrists - thankfully I picked up a blunt knife, not the one of the same type I had sharpened earlier & DH was with me so stopped me doing myself real harm - I threw the pills away, but it still shocks me to the core to this day, as I had a new baby, no PND & bar crumbling health, had everything going for me.

My close friend wasn't so lucky, she was given these after losing her DM - she did exactly the same thing, & on day 10 too - she ended up in IC & then on a psychiatric ward after nearly losing her life.


Another close friend was given them after losing his dad & a relationship breakdown - I was worried about him taking them, so when we got an odd phone call from him on day 10, I sent DH round to his flat - he had taken an overdose, thankfully he survived too

I'm not saying don't take them, I think they have their place & of course can help - just be aware of this not do well known possible side effect & don't be alone at during this 10 day window

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 03/08/2014 07:51

Rockin I don't think you are a scare monger, I want to know so I can tell what's me and what's the drug iyswim. I had read about this in the leaflet but will defo make dh aware about day 10 just incase. In fact I think the leaflet said to get someone else to read it too maybe this is why.

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Trooperslane · 03/08/2014 08:50

Definitely stick with them til at least day 14/15, op and pp

ThanksThanks for you both.

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BastardDog · 03/08/2014 09:26

I agree with what is being said about day 10. That was the day I hit rock bottom on one of my previous attempts at anti. Ds and chucked them in the bin. The other time it was day 16.

But, as they say, knowledge is power, so knowing what to expect should be some help.

Day 4 for me and so far no issues.

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 03/08/2014 19:05

knowledge is power, words I live by

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 03/08/2014 19:06

knowledge is power, words I live by

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 04/08/2014 14:02

Hi bastarddog how are you getting on today? I've had to step out of the office for some fresh air as the noise was driving me batty. ( got a noisy printer that's not used often and it goes right through me)

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BastardDog · 04/08/2014 18:58

I'm good today thanks lovebeinginthesun. Tis very early days, but perhaps feeling a teeny bit better, or maybe that's just the placebo effect as its only day 5.

Went a bit weird yesterday early evening and came over all claustrophobic. I had to get out the house and dragged the poor dog off on a 7 mile walk. I did feel much better for it. I just needed to be out in open spaces.

How are you doing?

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 04/08/2014 20:23

Feeling the same! Hence getting out the office today, also felt very claustrophic yesterday when the dc were crowding me had to physically push them away Blush

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enormouse · 04/08/2014 20:33

Hi. I'm on fluoextine too.
It took about 2 and a half weeks before I felt any different. I was a zombie for that fortnight though. Permanently tired and I could barely get out of bed. I agree, around day 10ish I hit my lowest point.

Am on my 3rd week now and I'm unrecognizable from how I was then.

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LoveBeingInTheSun · 05/08/2014 19:00

Well I slept through one of the doc waking up last night Shock and was having an ok day till I got home and dh told me how he had seen his mum and told all about me taking them Angry

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BastardDog · 06/08/2014 09:50

Oh dear lovebeinginthesun. That was a bit tactless of dh, but maybe he was looking for some support or reassurance from his mum? Hopefully it wasn't talked about in a gossipy way, more a caring / concerned about you chat?

It's day 6 (or 7, I've lost track) for me and my side effects are physical. Diarrhea (I have IBS anyway, but this is on top of that), which I'm using Immodium for. Also I'm really thirsty and drinking lots, but don't seem able to wee much, which is making me retain fluid and my boobs are enormous and hurt this morning.

Mentally I seem to cycle through the day and night feeling alternately tense and anxious, followed by periods of feeling spaced out and detached. I much prefer the latter. ??

Hope you're having another ok day lovebeinginthesun.

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